VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21998, 6 July 1933, Page 9

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

ACTIVITIES OF COMMITTEE EFFORTS TO FIND WORK, Some interesting statistics in connection with the work accomplished by the Dunedin Vocational Guidance Committee in finding boys and girls positions were placed before a meeting of the committee held last night. Reports were submitted by Mr J. Robertson (Records Committee), Mrs S. M. Park (Girls’Subcommittee), Mr W. J. Bennett (Activities Committee), Mrs Fisher (Y.W.C.A. Activities), while Mr J. L. Salmond reported on his recent interview with the Minister of Labour in connection with vocational guidance matters. The vocational officer (Mr T. Conly) also submitted a report which dealt with' his work during the past month. Mr J. L. Salmond presided over a good attendance. DESTINATIONS OF PUPILS. Mr Robertson’s report showed the destinations of pupils who left secondary and technical schools in Dunedin at the end of 1932. The figures had been compiled from returns furnished by the school authorities early this year, and dealt only with the numbers of pupils in attendance during 1932. A summary of these numbers was also attached. These figures indicated that 194 pupils (of whom 182 were, girls) had been returned as “at home ” and 78 as “ awaiting employment.” No doubt, a proportion _of the former number were also awaiting employment, and of the 182 girls at home many were not seeking work. As the returns did not supply the names of the individual pupils unemployed, inquiries had been made through head teachers of primary schools regarding the unemployed youths in their districts. In this way the names and addresses of 140 males and 86 females —a total of 220 — had been obtained. It was recommended by the committee that such of these as had not already been in communication with the vocational guidance officer should be approached by circular, so as to bring them into touch with the latter, so that he might assist them in obtaining employment. The report submitted by Mr Robertson gave the following summary of the destination of pupils who left secondary and technical schools in December, 1932:

The school years in which the pupils left were as follows:—First year, 104; second year, 286; third year, 170; fourth year, 237; continued at post-primary schools, 62; —total, 919. The chairman, in commenting on the report of tho Activities’ Committee, said that more youths from 18 and 20 years of age were now making use of the gymnasium at the Y.M.C.A. He also said that in the course of his interview with the Minister of Labour and Mr Bromley, when the question of dealing with boys of that age was discussed, it was pointed out by the Minister that in the North Island workshops had been provided for these boys, and they were taught by instructors to make useful articles for the home, which were saleable. Boys were paid so much per week, and instructors were provided for them by tho Employment Board. 'The work was quite satisfactory in these centres, and the

Minister said he was surprised that a similar scheme had not been adopted in Dunedin. Mr W. J. Bennett said that this matter had come before his committee some nine months ago, but there was no opportunity to do anything at that time. The latest information to haqd, however, was interesting and well worth consideration. SEARCH FOR EMPLOYMENT.' Mr Conly reported that he and Mr G. Adess visited a large number of factories in search of positions for boys and girls. They were only successful in securing two definite positions for boys, but made very useful new contacts. By this time, however, the Vocational Guidance Committee’s work was well and favourably known to members of the Manufacturers’ Association. In view of this fact, and the further fact that most of the factories were already using the committee’s services by sending direct to vocational schools for junior employees, it was felt that little more could be done in this direction in the meantime. The visit to the factories was undertaken on the suggestion of the president of the Manufacturers’ Association (Mr James Hogg). They received a cordial reception everywhere. Although there was a brightening of employment in the building trades, there was little prospect of immediate employment of boys in these trades until those apprentices were absorbed who were at present suspended. The engineering trades were dull, and only three boys of different ages had been placed in such trades so far this month. The boys and girls placed in employment in May and June were:—Boys: Farms 4, shops and offices 11, trades 4, factory 9, miscellaneous 13, temporary 10, making a total of 51. Girls: Farms 7, shops and offices 6, trades 6, factory C, miscellaneous 12, temporary 4, making a total of 41. Of those placed in work, a number were older youths usually difficult to place, but this had the of leaving at school boys of 16 and 10J years, who were getting restless. An encouraging feature was the quiet but steady ilow of boys to farms. Good boys had been sent to good farmers. At present he had on his list the names of a few really good senior lads who wanted country work. In a few weeks he expected there would plenty of farm positions offering for boys. During the month he had sent 20 boys and girls to Mr H. H. Ferguson, of the Psychology Department of the Otago Univei-sity, for mental testing in order to identify special aptitudes and mental ranking. The tests generally confirmed his own estimates. The chairman said that, in company with Mr J. R. Fairbairn and Mr Conly, the Minister of Labour and Mr Bromley were interviewed on Monday in connection with the committee’s work. They were favourably received, and the Minister was very sympathetic, and had stated that the committee had produced wonderful results. WOMEN AND GIRLS.

Mrs Fisher’s report stated that the work among unemployed women and girls at the Y.W.G.A. at present came under two main headings. Unemployed women and girls_ from the age of 14 years upwards still applied for work, as they were accustomed to do before the Women’s Unemployment Committee took over the official register. These were placed in positions when possible. Any who were unplaced were advised to register with the official registrar. The positions tho committee was asked to fill were almost entirely domestic service. If they had girls of a higher than average grade of intelligence, or with any sort of vocational training, they wore sent to Mr Conly for further advice. There were at present over 200 women and girls who were in need of positions. Classes were hold last year on one or two afternoons a week, chiefly in dressmaking and sports. A,s always seemed to bo the case with such classes, the attendances fell off markedly during the year. This year I hey had organised the classes for girls from 14 to 18 years on a rather more ambitious scale. They hoped to encourage girls 1o attend all the classes, ami then to be regularly occupied each afternoon. About 12 girls had fulfilled these conditions. Forty-five girls registered at tho beginning of the classes, and of these 4a, 20 were found positions during tho first two months. Others, of course, wore registered from time to time. These facts exemplified the difficulties of getting continuity in this work. The attendances had been irregular, but those responsible for the organisation still felt the effort to be well worth while. It was surprising to find that a considerable proportion of those who registered had not obtained their competency certificate before leaving school. It required no great effort of imagination to realise how empty of interest such ill-educated minds might become if the children remained without employment during their adolescence. _ Tlie classes actually being held were in sports, physical culture, etc., handicrafts, Karitane, housewifery, literature, singing, and English. One interesting difference between the classes this year and last year was that whereas last

year the classes in which the greatest interest was shown wore sports, etc., this year more regular attendance and keenness had been apparent in those classes which were of more practical use.

Boys. Girls. Continuing education 63 48 In employment 326 145 Left district or deceased 7 7 Unknown 35 16 At home 12 182 Awaiting employment 64 14 Totals 507 412 The report was more fully by the following summary; — Boys. expalined Girls. Continued full-time at other post - primary schools 28 34 Continued full-time at university colleges 32 13 Continued full-time at private tuition 3 — School teaching or Training College Clerical, including typing— — 1 (a) Government or local body 9 2 (b) Banking and insurance • • . 8 — (c) Legal 5 1 (d) Commercial .. .. 53 27 Engineering, surveying, architecture 6 Various trades and indnstries 08 34 Shops and warehouses .. 70 42 Fanning .. 43 3 Miscellaneous employment 34 36 Left district 4 6 Deceased 3 I / 10 Unknown 35 'Homo (not included elsewhere in this return).. 12 182 Awaiting employment 64 14 Totals 507 ' 412